5 arrested during pot grow compliance check

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Five people were arrested — four of whom had active warrants — after Nevada County narcotics officers went to a property Wednesday to conduct a compliance check on a medical marijuana grow.

Members of the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force went to the residence in the 26000 block of Sweetland Road, off Highway 49 on the San Juan Ridge, to conduct a compliance check after receiving information that marijuana was possibly being cultivated in violation of the Nevada County ordinance, said Det. Brett LaCosse.

A marijuana garden was located with multiple violations, LaCosse said.

“The size of the garden wasn’t really an issue,” he said. “There were electrical issues with lights and fans in a makeshift greenhouse not being up to code.”

Fencing was one of the violations, LaCosse said, adding that there also were no medicinal marijuana recommendations located for the marijuana garden.

Notice of the marijuana cultivation ordinance violations was posted. The growers will have five days to correct the issues or file a request with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to appeal the findings.

While attempting to find the owner of the garden — who was not present and who was not arrested — a number of people were found on the property who had active warrants for their arrest, LaCosse said.

Sherry Lee Wilder, 34, and Larry Alan Wilson, 30, were arrested on failure-to-appear warrants, and a juvenile female on the property was taken to Juvenile Hall for an arrest warrant related to possession of marijuana.

Parolee Steven Charles Bell, 45, was arrested on a felony warrant for possession of marijuana for sale. A parole search of Bell’s trailer revealed a small amount of methamphetamine, LaCosse said. Bell was booked into county jail on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, as well as the warrant and was being held in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Lisa Figueroa, 46, was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance, booked and released on $1,000 bail.